The future of the European Union (EU) is at stake as its member states face critical challenges, such as a fragile economic recovery, growing conflicts beyond its borders and the inflow of migrants fleeing conflict and economic hardship.

Further threatening the EU is weakening public support for the Union, the possibility of a British exit (“Brexit”) via referendum and rising nationalist and populist movements in many member states.

Join us as Benedetto Della Vedova, Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, makes the case for a united Europe, one that will be better able to provide security for its citizens, deliver growth and prosperity and address current and future critical challenges than a fragmented Europe.

Mr Della Vedova will share the perspective of the Italian government, which is seeking to strengthen the EU through an ambitious innovation-focused policy agenda focused on economic and job growth.

Mr Della Vedova is an elected member of Italy’s Senate and previously served as an MP in the Italian Chamber of Deputies. He was a member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2004, where he sat on the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Mr Della Vedova has also been a prominent commentator on political and economic affairs, contributing to Italy’s major economic national newspaper, Il Sole 24 Ore, and to the Corriere della Sera, among other magazines and radio programs.